We have been working with the Guchienda Estate for several years, and it continues to produce some of the best Kenyan profiles we taste each season. This year is no different—our hats are off to Edwin, Benson, and their mother, Esther. In the cup we find ripe blackberry, hibiscus, and tree tomato.
SL28
Kibugu, Embu County
1,800 masl
December, 2024
Hand-picked at peak ripeness. Hand-sorted to ensure only the very best cherries are selected. De-pulped. Fermented for ~24 hours. Floated through channels to sort by density and remove remaining defects. Soaked overnight in fresh water. Dried on raised beds for 15 days while continually turned and hand-sorted.
ABOUT GUCHIENDA ESTATE
This is an inspiring single-estate project we have been working with for several years. In Kenya, coffee is traditionally purchased through large washing stations where transparency is limited. Working directly with a single estate allows for greater traceability, opportunities for variety separations, and the ability to address issues like soil health more directly. Guchienda Estate is managed by brothers Edwin and Benson, along with their mother, Esther.
ABOUT SL28
“SL” is in reference to single tree selections made by Scott Agricultural Laboratories in 1935-1939. SL28 is of the Bourbon genetic group, and was selected for its drought resistance as well as its extremely high cup quality. SL28 is one of the most well-known and well-regarded varieties in Africa. It has consequently spread from Kenya to other parts of Africa as well as Central and South America. SL28 is non-hybrid, and very susceptible to disease.
Pricing Details
FARM GATE (GREEN)
$16.00/KG
FOB
$18.54/KG
FOT
$28.82/KG
The cost of getting a coffee from cherry to beverage varies enormously depending on its place of origin and the location of its consumption. The inclusion of price transparency is a starting point to inform broader conversation around the true costs of production and the sustainability of specialty coffee as a whole.